In 1990 the German ‘Land’ of Schleswig-Holstein announced that they wanted this northernmost district of Germany to be 10% organic by the year 2000. Farmers welcomed the move but pointed out that growing flax was an essential part of a crop rotation that included cabbages, rye and beans. So the University of Kiel set up an enterprise called Holstein Flachs, that developed organic fabrics using the flax from these newly-converted organic farms. They researched and developed new concept fabrics that helped shed linen’s historic image as wrinkly and prone to crease, using innovative weaving methods as well as blends with organic cotton and wool.

I started having my shirts made out of organic linen in 1993 and, despite the initial cost, they are incredibly hard-wearing. Another bonus is that I never buy a shirt that doesn’t fit as they are all made to my yoke/tail/collar/chest measurements. So no money wasted on shopping errors. Holstein Flachs also make linen jersey, which has excellent wick properties, so all my undershirts are made from this material. A few years ago they came up with an organic linen and wool blend Glen check suiting material, which I had made up into a suit which I wore at the first organic fashion show at the Soil Association conference in Newcastle in 2005

I get comfortable and strong cotton socks from Greenfibres who do a full range of organic clothes and household stuff. I am also a great fan of Marci Zaroff’s Under the Canopy range from the US. Her ‘Serendipity’ T shirts are soft and fit well.

In January 2007 there was a full scale catwalk show (even ending with a gorgeous organic chamois leather wedding dress) at the Soil Association Conference in Cardiff. Patrick Holden, the Soil Association’s Director modelled a tweed kilt and waistcoat and I modelled a houndstooth check scarf. The tweeds are from Ardalanish Organic Farm and Weaving Mill. All their woven products are made from the wool of native Hebridean sheep and come in dramatic patterns that are completely undyed. The sheep have lustrous black wool but they also come in shades ranging through dark brown to slivery white. The wool is separated by colour, then carded, spun and woven to make beautiful but subtle classic tweeds, tartans and checks.